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Border govs blast Congress on immigration

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- The governors of four U.S. border states have written to the GOP leadership of Congress, urging them to pass an immigration reform bill.

In a strongly worded letter to House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill. and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., Governors Janet Napolitano, D-Ariz., Arnold Schwarzenegger R-Calif., Bill Richardson D-N.M., and Rick Perry, R-Texas, chastise Congress for failing to take action on immigration reform so far this year.

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"In all of our states," the four governors write, "we face a crisis not of our making ... our states are flooded with illegal immigrants, our taxpayers are angry and citizens and non-citizens alike are losing respect for the law."

The four accuse congressional leaders of grandstanding by organizing field hearings around the country to stoke opposition to a guest worker program, rather than negotiating on the provisions of the bill with those who support such a program.

"Instead of holding dozens of field hearings that do little but stir the pot of discontent, we urge you to get back to work and pass legislation that puts the interest of taxpayers first and solves this crisis once and for all," the letter reads.

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"We have used state and local law enforcement to help enforce the laws the federal government is supposed to enforce. We ask you to do your part."

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